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fanficlibrary82 · 25 days

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Pseudo Parents

Word Count: 1,571

Warnings: Other than the fact that I wrote this in 3 hours, none

AN: I've never written for the X-Men before, so feedback is more than welcome!!!

Professor Xavier had called you and Logan in for a special trip to recruit a new young mutant he had located in the middle of Nebraska. “After observing the young man's home life, I think it's best if you two travel to him specifically. I've been mentally nudging his parents towards a “boarding school” but I need a friendly face to make that final push.” He smiled kindly at the both of you, and even though Logan had rolled his eyes with a soft huff, you could've sworn there was the hint of a smile in return.

The first suggestion was to fly, since it was halfway across the country, but you saw the way Logan tensed and jumped in.

“What if we drove instead, professor? It'd take us a bit longer longer, but it would give you more time to relax the parents and warm the boy to the idea of leaving home.”

Logan had silently nudged your knee in thanks. You gently bumped his shoulder with yours, placed your hand on his wrist, and ran your thumb across his skin.

Professor X watched you both with a soft look in his eyes. Your relationship wasn't a secret, and you were both so fond of each other that Charles knew he had to select you two in particular. His family will feel better knowing that these two can act as pseudo parents in their stead, if only for the ride here.

“Very well, a drive it is. I'll arrange a car and find a few places along the way for you to rest. You're to leave at first light tomorrow morning.”

You thanked the professor and stood. Logan turned his wrist to give your hand a squeeze as you left the office.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

“Always,” you replied, squeezing his hand back.

The drive had been perfectly fine so far; decent weather, you had been put in charge of music while riding shotgun, and Logan had even been making jokes. But once you crossed over into Iowa, night had fallen and had brought a wicked storm with it. While you hadn't managed to convince him to let you drive so far, (“You know I'm no good talkin’ to people. I drive, you convince.”) seeing the turn off for a local motel, you wouldn't take no for an answer.

“You've been driving for 15 hours, Logan.”

“And? Just means we've only got…” he glanced at the GPS. “6 left. We can sleep when we get there and pick up the kid in the morning.”

You sighed, ready to fire a response back, but the bolt of lightning streaking across the sky made your eyes widen.

“Come on, Lo, this weather is-”

A loud crack of thunder cut you off, making you jump and reach for his hand.

He took it, deftly bringing your knuckles to his lips before he changed lanes.

“Shittier than expected?” He raised an eyebrow and glanced your way. He knew a bad storm is what made you realize your powers. Knew the memories it brought back.

He pulled into the parking lot and gave your hand a squeeze. “You comin’ in or wanna wait here?” Before you could answer, another crack of thunder made you jump and squeeze his hand tighter.

“Group effort it is,” he nodded, giving the back of your hand one last kiss before letting go and grabbing your bags out of the back.

You ran to the lobby, Logan not far behind, managing to only get soaked instead of drenched. The clerk looked up from behind the desk, clearly not expecting anyone.

“Oh, hi, uh…can I help you?” He flipped his phone face down on the counter and gave an honestly half decent attempt at looking interested.

“Yeah, we just need a room for the night,” Logan replied, keeping a tight grip on your hand. He was cautious in the best of circumstances, so a shitty motel in the middle of nowhere was not making him feel great.

The kid behind the counter grabbed some paperwork and a pen, sliding them across the desk. “Just need an ID and card for the room.”

You noticed the way he kept glancing at you, and it made your stomach churn. So, right as Logan reached across the desk, you concentrated, just how Charles had taught you, and made an illusory pair of wedding bands adorn your fingers. Judging by the way his eyes flicked from Logan's hand to yours, he got the message, but you needed no room for doubt.

“What brings you two to Wilton, Mr. Howlett?”

“Just passin’ through.”

“Oh, baby, don’t make it sound so awful!” You pressed yourself closer to Logan's side and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “He promised to take me on a cross country road trip for our honeymoon. Took us a few months, but we're finally doing it!”

Logan looked down at you curiously before noticing the band around your finger and his. He smiled, leaning in to kiss your temple. “I wouldn't've heard the end of it if I didn't, baby.”

The clerk nodded and hummed, clearly losing interest as he turned to make your room key.

Logan huffed out a low laugh and mouthed Honeymoon? You shrugged. First thing I could think of.

“Well, uh…congrats. Have a safe rest of your trip.” The clerk handed Logan the cards and gave you a tight lipped nod before returning to his phone. You gave him a smile in thanks and Logan guided you to your room.

“So we're married, huh? When'd that happen?” He grinned, unlocking the door.

“I wanted a summer wedding but you insisted on winter, so we compromised with October.”

He shook his head, stepping back so you could get out of the rain. He locked the door and you leaned against it, knowing he'd sweep the small room for bedbugs and burglars alike before letting you so much as sit on the bed.

“Who all was there?” Logan called as he poked around the bathroom.

“Only our friends; Ororo, Scott, Jean, Hank, Kurt. The professor officiated. Did you know he was licensed in New York?”

Clicking the bathroom light off with a satisfied nod he leaned against the opposite wall and smirked at you. “I didn't, but I'm sure it was quite the ceremony if you planned it.”

You smile fondly as you cross the room to wrap your arms around his neck. His hands fell to your waist as you laid your head on his chest.

“What was our first dance song?” His voice rumbled against your ear as he spoke softly.

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” you replied and he hummed in approval.

“Roberta Flack?”

“Is there any other version?” You tease and tilt up to look at him.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Not one I care to hear,” he smiled before he leaned down to kiss you.

You threaded your fingers through the curls at the base of his neck, smiling against his lips. His grip on you tightened as his lips made their way across your chin and down your neck.

“We showerin’ tonight or in the mornin’?” He muttered.

You didn't miss the we in his sentence, and pressed against his chest with a raised eyebrow. “You tryin’ to get me naked, Howlett?”

He snorted and pulled back to rest his forehead against yours. “I mean, if we're married, I feel like that's part of my job.”

You laughed and gave him another quick kiss before pulling him towards the bathroom.

After you had showered and changed, you crawled under the blankets and Logan was quick to follow. He wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you against him. You tucked your face into the crook of his neck and slid an arm across his chest. Your body slotted against his side and he tangled his legs with yours. His fingers found their way under your night shirt and gently caressed your skin, and you both sighed as you settled in for the night, feeling safe and warm in each other's arms.

Despite only living a few rooms apart at the school, it was rare you slept in the same bed. You both loved your students (even if Logan would never admit it out loud), but they tended to get a bit out of hand when their teachers got into relationships. You had both agreed early on that it was easier to just be coworkers while school was in session. Which made a night like tonight that much more special. With the rise and fall of his chest and his arm tight across your waist, you were lulled to sleep.

Once your breathing evened out, Logan turned to look at you. Your face fully relaxed, eyelashes fanned across your cheeks, he felt his chest tighten. A long time ago he gave up on the idea of love. For a man like him, real love was near impossible, the thought of them leaving or dying before he had visibly aged sabotaged any real chance he thought there could be.

But here, with the rain finally slowing and the moonlight shining across your face, he knew there wasn't any other word for what you had. He leaned down and pressed his lips against your hairline.

“I love you, baby” he muttered against your skin. More than you'll ever know.

#wolverine x reader #logan howlett x reader #x-men fic #wolverine fic #logan howlett fic #fluff #i actually really like this #i wrote it in 3 hours while I was getting ready for work 😅#but i needed to get this out of my system #wolverine is very quickly becoming my top comfort character #i actually wrote this because i was listening to a sleep aid audio of #“you and your fav spending the night in a motel together”#and the whole thing popped into my head #anyway #i hope you enjoy it!!!!!

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oathkeeper-of-tarth · 5 months

Note

So, I'm curious: What's your take on Aylin's experience after/if she kills Lorroakan?

Allegedly, there's some information floating around somewhere that said Aylin was angry with Selune after she killed Lorroakan, but I can't find where this info is.

If you saw posts about that here on tumblr it was probably posted by @justanotherignot! I've actually been meaning to gather up all the devnote tidbits about Selûne from Aylin and Isobel for a while now, so thank you for the excuse to do so and ramble a bit.

Player: I was just wondering what it was like in that cage of Balthazar's. Aylin: Let us not dwell on those dark days. Their memory is a vortex within my heart that leads directly to the Hells.

What is happening is, well, it's the century of unthinkable horror catching up to her. It's the Trauma(TM) - in one of the conversation options she's literally triggered by the mention of someone being run through repeatedly! It's the growing awareness that although she's been freed (and possibly reunited with her love), the secret is out and there are always going to be assholes gunning for her, aiming to use her as an "artefact" and power source to fuel their ambitions, without any regard for her, you know... basic personhood and well-being. Also, Lorroakan was blatantly lying. He didn't find any super special way to siphon her immortality with "no harm, no pain of any kind", he was just replicating Balthazar's soul cage (you can even find a letter from Ketheric to him, showing Lorroakan was pestering them).

On to the stuff from the game files! First, the conversation with Aylin directly after the Lorroakan fight in the tower. I'm going to be putting the context notes in square brackets next to the lines they apply to. I also plucked some audio out from the files for some of these because I love the delivery.

Aylin: The fire-haired fool is dead. Yet as I stare upon his corpse, I feel… sadness. Why? [Slow and curious, angry and confused by all that has happened.] Player: What kind of sadness is it? / I know something of sadness - or at least the ballads do. What does it feel like? Aylin: A gripping in the chest. As though I'd lost someone, something. [Lost in thought for a moment; confused.] Aylin: A paladin's fatigue, no doubt. You were excellent in battle, as is your way. And I am proud to fight at your side. [Remembering herself. She is Dame Aylin.] Aylin: I will catch my breath, then to camp I will bring my bones. Moonmaiden be with you. Player: Smiting is a weighty duty - sometimes it can be tiring. / Perhaps smiting has lost its pleasures. Aylin: Say it can't be so. For I am Selûne's sword. And ever must be. [She means it, but on the periphery of her consciousness is a tiny crack. Wondering about her fate.]

The above never fails to get me - she is Dame Aylin! Sword of the Moonmaiden! Glorious immortal paladin, champion of a righteous cause! She smites evil-doers for breakfast, that's, like, her whole thing! What do you mean she can't just pick up where she left off and go about her merry smitey way? What do you mean the thing that is supposed to be the literal core of her entire being (forever) doesn't feel good and glorious anymore, but just makes her feel sad and empty? No, no, no, we can't have that.

Player: One of the greatest tragedies of revenge is that it can only be taken once. / Because you won't get to kill him again? Aylin: Perhaps. Yet if I could run him through a thousand times, I wonder-- [Lost in thought, she's been triggered to remember her own fate being run through over and over.] Aylin: Battle has tired my mind, made me susceptible to flights of fancy. You were excellent in battle, as is your way. And I am proud to fight at your side.

Aylin: I will return to camp shortly. I just need a moment to… to… [Lost in thought.]

She so very desperately needs some rest and a chance to come to terms with everything that happened and that was done to her. And it's clear it's going to be hard because she is defaulting to trying to deny anything is wrong, is clearly trying (and failing) to just be her old self immediately, has blatantly internalised a lot of that classic I Am A Sword stuff on top of everything (even though her mother is huge on free will and choice!), and is just really not well-equipped to handle any of this at all.

Next, this is the post-Lorroakan convo you get if you have both Aylin and Isobel in camp.

Aylin: Ah. Ally mine. We are reunited once more. [Warm, but drained. She's not feeling like herself.] Aylin: I was just regaling sweet Isobel with tales of our prowess. Isobel: Very impressive. Thank you for helping Aylin - that wizard sounded absolutely dastardly. [Good humored. Soft in tone. A little uncertain - she's not sure why Aylin isn't herself.] Player: My pleasure. He had it coming. Aylin: He did, and it came. Now, my friend: bask in your victory. I will do the same. Aylin: But fear not: when the time comes for you to face the foe of foes, Isobel and I will stand by your side. [Rallying her soldierly spirit, but still a little drained.] Isobel: We wouldn't miss it. Not for anything. Aylin: Go well, friend. We will see you soon. And with our great powers combined, this city will be saved. Player: Hopefully he'll be the last. Aylin: There are always more bastards behind bastards. But we will run through them all, each by each.

Player: I hope you can rest easy now, Dame Aylin. Aylin: I always do, with darling Isobel by my side. Aylin: Enjoy the spoils of your victory. Spin memories of Lorroakan's death in your mind like silkfloss.

If Isobel isn't there (meaning she died in Act 2), you get this version:

Aylin: Ah. Ally mine. We are reunited once more. [Warm, but drained. She's not feeling like herself.] Aylin: I was just reviewing our fight against foul Lorroakan; your moves and mine. The victory was soundly won. Aylin: Don't you think? [Uncharacteristically, Aylin is seeking input. She's usually so confident about everything, but killing Lorroakan has not had the intended effect on her.] Player: Indeed I do. Let his demise serve as a warning to anyone else who'd seek you out. Aylin: Let him be the last. If my dear mother has any mercy, she will ensure it. [Trying to stay her usual self, but her mask is cracking a tiny bit here. Privately, Aylin is dealing with a great deal of anger toward her mother, the goddess Selûne, But she's not yet willing to face it. How could her powerful mother let all this happen to her?]

Player: We fought well - though I was a little worried about you afterward, in truth. Aylin: Set your mind at ease, my friend. Dame Aylin is more well now than she has been this past century. [Good humored. Soft in tone. A little uncertain - it's true she's better now than she has been, but why does she feel so shitty, then? (She's in the beginning of reckoning with the trauma of what happened to her).]

Player: I hope you can rest easy now, Dame Aylin. Aylin: Yes. I wish for the very same. Aylin: Enjoy the spoils of your victory. Spin memories of our prowess in your mind like silkfloss.

So, a few things pop out for me here. First, you get the more explicit anger at Selûne if Isobel isn't there, as opposed to the "hahah, I will smite all the bastards who dare come after me, no matter how many there are" line. "How could her powerful mother let all this happen to her?" just... damn, hits hard, even if you subscribe to the theory that Selûne simply could not intervene in the Shadowfell imprisonment beyond sending those poor people whose graves you find in front of the mausoleum.

And here Aylin really lays it on thick with the denial that there's anything wrong at all. Combined with the letter you get from her in the epilogue if Isobel is dead, it just paints such a bleak, sad picture. I can just see her going all out on the Sword of Selûne duty-bound paladin side of things, no rest, no healing, no stopping even for a moment, no dealing with anything at all, from the trauma to the bitterness towards mum. Until whatever horrible breaking point comes, a year or a century from now. The need for Isobel's humanising influence is so clear. I've touched on Isobel's side of things here.

Speaking of having a bone to pick with Selûne, if you're playing as a cleric/paladin of Selûne, you can get some extra very honest dialogue with Isobel in Last Light:

Player: Why has the Moonmaiden waited until now to take an interest in this curse? Isobel: Maybe she was waiting for one of us to find this place ourselves. Free will, and all that.

Isobel: Though if it were my place to ask why she let Ketheric turn; why she allowed this village to rot at his hands - believe me, I would. [A cold edge in her voice]

Player: Are you faring all right? It can't be easy holding a lone candle in such darkness. Isobel: All things with her strength. You know the litany. [A little sarcastically. She's got a bone to pick with Selûne but isn't being too overt.]

Side note: the amount of devnotes for Isobel's lines that say she's delivering them "with swagger" and being "cheeky" makes me smile every time. Love her. Love her snark.

Also, to get it out of the way: no, I'm fairly sure Aylin did not break her oath. I see this brought up a ton and I just see no way for it to be the case. There is nothing to suggest this outside of a wording similarity and it just makes no sense. Girl is clearly some flavour of Oath of Vengeance (she uses Abjure Enemy, so this is the case even mechanically, even though she's obviously an NPC and not a standard player-build paladin) and she killed a very shitty guy who was also explicitly after her in godawful ways. You can do far worse things in the game than her dramatic speech and backbreaker and not break your OoV.

#sorry this took so long!#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #dame aylin #isobel thorm #lorroakan #datamine #voice lines #audio #i'm stopping myself here but i could go on about this FOREVER #time for the comfort part of the hurt/comfort let's goooooooooo #oathkeeper replies to things

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